There are a ton of photo-worthy murals in Portland! Just a short drive from the coast, the City of Roses is also (unofficially!) the City of Murals and Street Art.
With so many vibrant neighborhoods and literally hundreds of murals in Portland, Oregon, it can be tough to pick just a few- so I did it for you 🙂
Here are the 10 Best Murals in Portland
1. Art Fills The Void
SE 12th & Division
Born in 1982, this is Portland’s oldest surviving community mural. It has been defaced and replaced many times, and today it stands as a protest against blank white walls everywhere.
The bananas are difficult to fit into one picture, so I chose a section of the fruit + the ‘Art Fills the Void,’ quote. You can fit in the entire mural with a phone tripod.
Artists: A group called Guerrilla Warfare
2. Bad Karma
1875 SE Belmont Street
According to the artist:
“…a lot of interesting people that live in streets of Portland, we heard their stories and drew them, then we painted this huge wall with their portraits on a building in the city.”
The entire wall is too big for one photo, but several individual parts of the wall make for great pics.
Artist: Broken Fingaz
3. Rhino Mural
1300 SE Morrison Street
This giant rhino seems to be set in a post-apocalyptic urban landscape – a commentary on humanity’s impact on the natural world.
In this mural, a rhino has literally broken through the wall, destroying the street signs in its path.
Artist: Josh Keys for the Annual Forest For The Trees Mural Event.
Pro Tip: The rhino is located in a dispensary parking lot- go during the late afternoon to get the mural to yourself.
4. Ladies Up Project
1401 SE Morrison St
Morrison Place’s retail center is home to several murals (with more on the way!). This ongoing, multi-artist project only features works by local female-identifying artists.
Artists: Tatyana Ostepenko, Salomée Soung, Amaranta Colindres, Isis Fisher, Kyra Watkins, Sunny Beard, Angela Saenz, and Laura Medina
5. Woodstock Street Art
SE 46th & Woodstock
This piece reminds me of both a setting sun and a peacock. The colors of the mural go great with black or neutral outfits.
As a general phone photography rule, murals and walls with lots of colors look good with neutral colors.
Artists: Rather Severe
6. The Knowledge Wall
510 S.W. Hall St
(I put ‘Ondine Annex,’ in the GPS)
These giant stacks of digitally printed books are so realistic that you’ll want to crack them open and read them! You’ll find some of your favorite titles, such as Othello and Streets of Hope.
Artist: Harrell Fletcher, with assistance from Avalon Kalin
7. Portland
8135 SE Woodward St.
This mural is directly on the Budlandia Dispensary wall. Make sure to park only in designated areas and be respectful of the business when snapping pics.
Artist: Pablos Murals
8. Poppies + Goat
SE 122nd Ave
This building has so much photographic potential- you’ve got a super cute goat and flower pot with bright blue and red poppies on the other side.
The mural is located on the walls of Art Soleil, which operates as an art studio and gift shop.
Artist: Nancy Tingley, Meg., Robin Casey, and friends.
9. La Bonita
2839 NE Alberta St
This mural is gorgeous and one of the most vibrant and colorful on this list. The doorway and sign in front of the La Bonita restaurant are also great spots for photos. The area around Alberta Street is one of the most colorful neighborhoods in Portland.
Artists: Rather Severe
10. Eyeball Medusa
Alberta & Avenue 31st Alleyway
There are a few more murals in this easy-to-miss alley. Note: I wasn’t able to find the artist, and ‘Eyeball Medusa,’ is the unofficial title that I use. If you know who the artist is, please reach out and let me know!
Artist: Unknown
Frequently asked questions
What are the best murals in Portland, Oregon?
I always find myself captivated by The Knowledge Wall on Hall St. because the books look so vivid and realistic. Tied for second place on my best murals in Portland, Oregon, checklist would be the Banana mural on the Division and the vibrant, peacock-like masterpiece on Woodstock.
What is the best Portland, Oregon, street art tour?
I like this guided bike tour from Viator because it limits participation to 16, meaning you’ll have less competition for photos and more time with your guide. Also, hearing firsthand stories about local art and artists is a nice balance to the visual experience.
Where is the banana mural in Portland?
When I lived in Portland, passing by the cute banana mural at the corner of SE 12th & Division always made me smile. It’s a charming stop if you’re in the neighborhood and a great spot for a selfie!
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Did you visit any (or all!) of the murals in Portland listed here? Is there a mural you think deserves to be added to the list?
Let me know in the comments section here and tag me on social media!
